America -Then vs Now. It’s Almost Unbelievable

Newsweek magazine, on December 27, 1982, in an article entitled, How the Bible Made America, made this revealing statement, “historians are discovering that the Bible, perhaps even more than the Constitution, is our Founding document.”

To understand the core values of a nation, one must simply look to the beliefs set forth during its conception, and, in the case of America, during the transitional years of the American Revolution. Judge for yourself how far we have drifted from the original intent of early Americans. Consider the following:

Then: If a proposed article for the Constitution was not supported by, or rooted in the Bible, it was not considered. In their early writings, many of the Founding Fathers quoted or referenced the Bible nearly four times more than any other source.

Now: The Bible is mocked, ridiculed, and discarded.

Then: First introduced in 1766, William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws, served as the legal reference for the Founders, as well as for many early American lawyers. Blackstone’s commentaries were deeply rooted in biblical principles. It’s been said that Blackstone was the first to use the phrase, “the laws of nature and of nature’s God.”

Now:“It is unconstitutional for students to see the Ten Commandments since they might read, meditate upon, respect, or obey them.” Stone v. Graham, 449 U.S. 39 (1980).

Then:John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, said, “Unto Him who is the author and giver of all good, I render sincere and humble thanks for His manifold and unmerited blessings, and especially for our redemption and salvation by His beloved Son.”

Now: In 1995, a District judge in Texas, Samuel B. Kent, decreed that any student saying the name of Jesus during school graduation ceremonies would be jailed.

Then:Noah Webster, the Founding Father of American Scholarship and Education, said, “In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed . . . .”

Now:Many students are criticized when they read their Bibles in public, or at school. Christianity is challenged, mocked, and ridiculed while most other beliefs are accepted and embraced. Sadly, in order to be politically correct, Noah Webster’s Scripture references have been withdrawn from recent editions.

Then:The Delaware Constitution initially required that everyone appointed to public office must say, “I do profess faith in God the Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ his only Son . . . .” Many other Constitutions such as Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, and Connecticut all acknowledged their reliance on God.

Now:Those who run for office and profess a faith in Jesus Christ are viewed as fanatical and/or extreme, and are often criticized by the media.

Then: In 1790, Dr. Benjamin Rush, signer of the Declaration of Independence, said this about public schools, “But the religion I mean to recommend in this place is that of the New Testament . . . .”

Now: Most public schools avoid doctrines of the New Testament. In Roberts v. Madigan (1989), for example, the court ruled: “It is unconstitutional for a classroom library to contain books which deal with Christianity, or for a teacher to be seen with a personal copy of the Bible at school.” (Granted, courts have ruled that the Bible can be used, in some cases, for historical and literary purposes.)

Then: “The first and primary duty of government is to protect innocent human life” (Thomas Jefferson). “Nobody has the freedom to choose to do what’s morally wrong” (Abraham Lincoln).

Now:If the names of all the babies who have been aborted since the early 1970s were placed on a monument (much like that of the Vietnam Memorial Wall), it’s been estimated that the monument would span over 35 miles. Although many protest guns and war, very few speak out against abortion. The womb is no longer the safest place, but one of the most dangerous. What a travesty!

Unbelievable! And we’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg. Clearly, most of America’s founders and early settlers wanted the Bible, prayer, and biblical principles so entrenched within society that nothing would remove them. This is why John Adams, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, rightly said, “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were . . . the general principles of Christianity.”

The list could go on and on: From Harvard to Yale, from the Supreme Court to the local courts and the public school system, historically, the theme remained the same—God’s Word was to be the foundation on which America was built!

As yet another example, consider the 1642 Rules and Precepts of Harvard University founded by Reverend John Harvard: “Let every student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternal life (John 17:3).” The Rules continue, “and therefore to lay Christ in the bottom, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.”

What would those at Harvard say today? America—then vs. now. It’s almost unbelievable.

Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Lancaster, Ca., just North of Los Angeles. He just released his 6th book, Answers for a Confused Church. The brief trailer is here.He currently resides in So Cal. with his wife and children. His sermons, articles, books, and radio program can all be found at www.WCFAV.org, or by visiting OnePlace.com

About Regaining Lost Ground

Today, as we continually drift away in a current of moral decline and relativism, many believe that the battle is too advanced and that we cannot make a difference. Shane, however, believes that we can. He stresses: "If we encourage truth, yet fail to relate to our culture, the church can seem formal and dead. This fact fuels the postmodern movement. But when truth is sacrificed for the sake of relating to the culture, as we see today, the very foundation is destroyed. Truth, the foundational beliefs clearly outlined in Scripture, must remain unmoved and unchanged. Times change, but truth does not!

About Pastor Shane Idleman

Author/speaker, Shane Idleman, has written six compelling, biblically-based books, and has obtained quotes from such noted pastors and leaders as Jack Hayford, D. James Kennedy, Tony Perkins, David Barton, Mike MacIntosh, Dr. Peter Lillback, Bob Coy, and Raul Ries, and from organizations such as the National Academy of Sports Medicine, Promise Keepers, American Family Association, and Family Research Council.

What makes this story so inspiring is that Idleman had a promising career as a Corporate Executive, but he left it behind to follow a dream that God placed in his heart after he committed his life to Christ. In his words: "While I had focused on prosperity, wealth, and success, I had starved my soul. I tried everything that the world had to offer, but ultimately, I found that it offered little of lasting value." When asked why he thought that his ministry is being so well received, he added: "The overwhelming response simply reflects the need that we all have for the truths found in God’s Word."

Shane is known for crossing denominational lines. He adds, "We must strive for unity in the essentials, and grace in the non-essentials. We need sound doctrine and the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s possible to be Bible taught, but not Spirit led—straight as a gun barrel theologically, but just as empty. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. We desperately need both" (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:6).

Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship, in Lancaster, Ca. His sermons, books, articles, and radio program have sparked change in the lives of many. For more, visit WCFAV.org, or ShaneIdleman.com.